Chapter 356: The Ball (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 356: The Ball (5)
While countless promises of "secret friendships" from suspicious older men continued to pour in...
Alon spent several hours at the ball receiving greetings.
"It’s already grown dark."
"So it has."
The sky, once tinged with the colors of the sunset, had turned completely pitch black before they knew it.
Checking the sky, Alon leaned against the balcony railing and let out a weary sigh as he looked back inside.
The ball was now in full swing, the hall incredibly crowded. In one particular area, a massive throng of nobles had gathered. It looked much like the crowd that had swarmed Alon just a short while ago.
"?"
As Alon turned his gaze toward the commotion with belated curiosity, he saw Elivan at the center of it, surrounded by nobles and laughing jovially.
"When did he arrive?"
"Are you talking about Elivan?"
"Yes. I didn't see him earlier."
"He probably arrived right when we stepped out onto the balcony, Professor."
Nodding at Yutia’s words, Alon looked back toward Elivan. The nobles were packed so tightly around him that it seemed he might actually be swept away by the crowd.
Alon murmured softly, "He’s popular."
"Are you jealous?"
Alon turned to Yutia with his characteristic expressionless face.
"Hardly."
"I knew it. You’ve never been one to enjoy crowds, Professor."
Yutia giggled to herself as if something were amusing.
"The reason Elivan is so popular is likely because he’s become something of a Hero to them."
"...I did hear he’s been quite busy with various matters."
"Yes. Ever since he became a Chosen One, he’s accomplished so much. He prevented the birth of Outer Gods and single-handedly cleared numerous Strange Gates. And he did all that while traveling across the entire United Kingdoms."
"Hmm."
Elivan certainly deserved that level of popularity. No matter how intensely a Player might control Elivan in Psychedelia, it would be impossible to handle almost every Strange Gate like he was doing now.
In other words, Elivan had saved the world more perfectly than even the veteran players who had studied countless builds.
"Considering his achievements, it makes sense."
"Right? He’s the Hero who saved the entire world, after all."
Alon watched Yutia’s beaming face for a moment before asking, "By the way, are you alright?"
"Huh? About what?"
"I mean, you were hounded for hours, yet you seem perfectly fine."
She let out a small "Ah."
"Well, I deal with this sort of thing quite often at balls or other official functions."
"Is that so?"
"And besides, it’s something I have to do."
"...Something you have to do?"
At Alon’s question, Yutia gave a slightly mischievous smile and stared intently at the green badge on Alon’s chest.
"You fixed this, I see?"
She was changing the subject. Alon tilted his head but answered nonetheless.
"Line fixed it for me."
"Heeeh—is that so?"
Whatever was so pleasing to her, Yutia tapped her index finger against the Green Badge—which seemed exceptionally shiny today—and whispered with a curl of her lips.
"Because... a declaration must be made."
It was a peculiar smile.
"A declaration...?"
Alon asked back, but she didn't answer. Instead, as if suddenly remembering something, she looked at him and said, "Professor, here."
"This is—"
She pressed a sweet potato into his hand.
"...A sweet potato?"
Suddenly? Here? Alon looked at Yutia, his eyes conveying his bewilderment. However, whether she noticed his feelings or not, she continued to smile brightly.
"You like them, don't you?"
"...Well, I do like them, but..."
"That’s why I brought it."
"..."
Alon stared blankly at the sweet potato for a moment, baffled by its sudden appearance.
"Go ahead, eat."
At Yutia’s urging, Alon shrugged and popped the sweet potato into his mouth. Come to think of it, he had spent hours doing nothing but greeting people, and then he had escaped to the balcony before the nobles could latch onto him again, so he hadn't eaten properly.
"How is it?"
"It’s delicious."
As expected, a sweet potato eaten when one is hungry was truly delicious.
Now that the sun had set, the Milky Way unfailingly embroidered the night sky.
'Does it look beautiful to you...?'
Looking at the Milky Way, the Observer’s voice automatically came to mind. Strangely, whenever he looked at the stars, her words resurfaced.
Is it beautiful... I wonder.
Alon stared blankly at the sky alongside Yutia. Unlike the world he once knew, the Milky Way was a brilliant cluster of stars that filled the dark night.
"..."
For a long while, Alon and Yutia gazed at the sky in silence.
* * *
At that same time.
In Phildegrin, the land of the Elves.
BOOM—!!!
A massive explosion erupted from the Royal Castle. It was a noise so loud the entire castle seemed to shake for a moment. Yet, despite such noise pollution...
"What was for dinner tonight?"
"Marma fruit course."
"Again...?"
"Yep."
"Ugh... I’m not a fan."
The Elves...
"Man, I want to go home."
"Then go."
"I’ll get fired if I do."
"But you said you wanted to go."
"...Let’s just stop talking."
...were peaceful.
What was the reason? Was it because the Elves were so strong that it wasn't a threat? Or was it because their danger-sensing abilities were incredibly poor?
It was neither. The reason they were so calm was simple.
CRASH—!
To the Elves, this kind of situation had already become a perfectly peaceful part of their daily routine.
CRASH! BOOM! BANG!
"Hmm, is she 'Greatly Angered' today?"
"Seems like it."
"She hit it three more times than usual. Isn't that 'Extremely Angered'?"
"...Is it? Now that I listen closely, it does sound like it."
"From the looks of it, isn't the Queen hitting it too?"
At the words of Rohan, an Elf on guard duty on the castle wall, Tuman, who was listening beside him, made a thoughtful expression.
"Could be."
"Man—the maids in charge tomorrow are going to have a hell of a time."
"Why? Lady Magrina doesn't usually do anything, does she?"
"That’s true."
"Then why are the maids going to suffer?"
"They say it’s psychologically terrifying."
"...Psychologically?"
"Yeah. Apparently, she just stays perfectly still without saying a single word. With a completely expressionless face."
Tuman thought about it for a moment.
"...Ah, yeah, that would definitely be scary."
"Right?"
"Yeah."
"I’m glad we’re assigned to the walls."
"I was just thinking the same thing."
They both breathed a sigh of relief.
BOOM—!
At the sound of another massive explosion...
"By the time tomorrow passes, most of them will have dead eyes."
Everyone’s gaze turned once more toward the source of the noise.
And there, inside the Royal Castle where Rohan and Tuman were looking...
At the heart of the problem...
"...Phew."
"..."
Line and Magrina were staring at a magical tool. They both looked incredibly heated.
To be more precise, they were looking into a large magical tool that Line had set up after discovering she could secretly (though she claimed it was perfectly legal for 'escort purposes') see Alon’s face.
On the screen was Yutia’s smiling face.
Or rather, it was more accurate to say that the artifact had stopped functioning while Yutia’s face was displayed.
"Just who is that woman? She’s clearly not a mage, so how did she directly access the artifact and do something like this...?"
Magrina expressed her absurdity, finding it utterly incomprehensible. Line also looked exasperated, agreeing a hundred percent. She knew Yutia was ridiculously strong, but she hadn't expected her to have such deep knowledge of magic as well.
And so...
"...Sigh."
"Haaa..."
Line and Magrina could do nothing but let out long sighs as they stared at the dead artifact.
* * *
The day after receiving countless "secret friendship" promises from suspicious older men.
Only then did Alon reach the truth behind those secret friends.
"First, let us talk slowly. Eat comfortably."
"Yes."
He learned it through Cretenia Siyan, the Queen of Asteria.
Munch. In an atmosphere that still felt a bit suffocating, Alon stuffed a sweet potato into his mouth and looked at Siyan.
Siyan observed him with a faint smile, as if watching Alon eat a sweet potato was somehow entertaining.
After some time had passed, and Alon had finished the sweet potatoes he held in both hands...
"Was it delicious this time as well?"
"...Yes."
"That is a relief."
Satisfied with Alon’s answer, Siyan nodded and lightly cleared her throat.
"The reason I called you here is twofold."
"Two reasons... is it?"
"Yes. First, I simply wanted to see your face after a while. The other is because of 'that matter.'"
"If you mean 'that matter'... is it what you mentioned earlier?"
"Indeed. The rumor that you are gathering nobles to join a new kingdom you intend to create."
Alon let out a long breath. He finally realized why so many "secret friend" nobles had swarmed him last night. It was because of that rumor spreading among the aristocracy.
"First of all, let me state that I have absolutely no intention of doing such a thing."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. I am serious. To begin with, I have no reason to do so, do I?"
"Hmm."
Siyan stared at Alon. However, the atmosphere wasn't heavy at all. A gentle smile remained on Siyan’s face.
"Well—I know well enough that the man I’ve seen is not someone who would do such a thing."
"...That is a relief."
"Still, just in case, I would like to hear how such a misunderstanding came to be."
"I’d be happy to explain."
Alon immediately began to calmly tell the story, starting from where he thought the misunderstanding originated. After listening for a while...
"That is how it happened—"
Siyan nodded after hearing Alon’s full explanation.
"Hmm, I see. So that’s how it was?"
"Yes."
Alon let out a small sigh of relief. Looking at Siyan’s face, it seemed he believed him.
But that relief was short-lived.
"Well, I roughly understand."
"I’m glad."
"Think nothing of it. In truth, I never thought you were harboring such thoughts. Even if the circumstances were a bit coincidental, as I said, I know the kind of person you are."
"Is that... so?"
"Yes. Because I’ve found out a few things."
"Found out...?"
At Alon’s question, Siyan smiled gently and pointed to her own eyes with her index finger.
"...Did something else come to mind, perhaps?"
"Indeed. Whether I see you here or see you 'there,' you are truly consistent."
Siyan kept her smile, lightly rolling her shoulders as if her neck were a bit stiff.
"Anyway, it’s a relief. Then the news that the Luxible Kingdom is preparing an army must also be a mere rumor."
He tossed out those words casually.
"...Pardon?"
Alon’s expression went blank for a moment.
"There have been many such rumors lately. That the Luxible Grand Duchy, which follows you, is preparing a holy army to coincide with the timing of Divine Land."
"...Uh—"
"The King changed suddenly, and several pieces of evidence were found, so I sent informants. It seems it was just a groundless worry, though."
"I... see. Just in case, I must ask... The person who became the new King...?"
Alon threw out the question.
And then...
"...I believe I heard the name was Sirkal."
"..."
The moment Siyan casually dropped that name...
"I... see."
Alon began to feel an indescribable sense of dread.